The Institute has been or is currently funded by a number of federal grants through such organizations as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the Department of Health and Human Services. Domains of inquiry include asthma, diabetes, mental health, organ donation, and substance use. Student training and applied methodological rigor are hallmarks of HPPSI, helping students gain hands-on experience working on numerous applied studies.

The HPPSI is directed by William Crano and co-directed by Eusebio Alvaro and Jason Siegel.